Pittsburgh Water combats ice formation at intake
With harsher cold weather affecting most of the country this winter, public utilities and municipalities are tackling new problems with quick solutions. Recently, the APWA commended public works officials for acting swiftly and with control during these winter storms. One morning in Pittsburgh, Pa., ice in the Allegheny River blocked Pittsburgh Water’s intake into the water treatment plant. Staff at the plant broke up some of the ice formation with support from a barge and tugboat. By the afternoon, pumping capacity returned to normal. The Water Treatment Plant staff continued to utilize manual tactics to keep ice away from the intake.
During this event there were no interruptions to customers and no damage reported. Pittsburg Water wrote that this incident was unique because the ice obstruction was not easily cleared from the intake.
